Walmart proposes a dozen stores in San Diego

Retail giant releases plan before council vote on supercenter ordinance

Young said he has pleaded with grocers to open up shop in his district for years with no takers. The councilman was the swing vote in favor of the supercenter ordinance in large part because of Walmart’s previous reluctance to build in his neighborhoods.

“I’ve been waiting for the phone to ring, for Walmart or anybody else ... to build in my community,” he said. “It sounds like Walmart wants to commit to doing that. All I want to do is bring fresh fruits and vegetables to my community at a decent price and not have my community members, the people I represent, shop for their groceries at a liquor store.”

Walmart’s proposal appears tailor-made to convince doubters like Young. The company had previously announced plans to address a dearth of grocery stores selling fresh produce in rural and underserved urban areas by opening smaller neighborhood markets, a likely proposal for Young’s district, which has little room for a supercenter.